JCPenney closing 'handful' of stores by mid-2025: Here's what we ...

Show Caption

Hide Caption

Big Lots: Rising inflation forcing retailer to close dozens of stores

Big Lots plans to close 35-40 stores this year, highlighting economic challenges facing large retailers. The closures include four stores in Michigan.

A "handful" of JCPenney locations are soon to be closing, a company spokesperson said, adding to the retailer's long list of shuttered stores since it filed for bankruptcy in 2020.

The spokesperson did not specify how many or which locations would be closing, but added the company did not plan to "significantly reduce" its store count.

JCPenney announced plans to close more than 200 locations across the country after the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2020. The chain was later acquired by Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. in December 2020.

Last month, JCPenney announced it had partnered with fashion retailer Forever 21 to create a new company called Catalyst Brands. The merger also includes Brooks Brothers, Aéropostale, Lucky Brand, Nautica and Eddie Bauer. Catalyst Brands is expected to open 1,800 store locations and hire 60,000 employees. The JCPenney spokesperson said the store closures are not related to the Catalyst Brands merger.

Here's what we know about the closures.

Which JCPenney stores are closing?

JCPenney did not confirm which "handful" of stores would be closing this year.

When are the stores closing?

A JCPenney spokesperson told USA TODAY the stores are expected to close by mid-2025.

Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse and Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.